About Glycerine

Glycerine (glycerol, C3H8O3) is a trihydric alcohol and one of the most versatile raw materials in commercial use. Its three hydroxyl groups make it strongly hygroscopic and water-miscible, giving it its defining role as a humectant, alongside functions as a solvent, emollient, sweetener, plasticiser, antifreeze and preservative-booster across personal care, pharmaceuticals, food, tobacco and industrial applications.

Glycerine is sourced globally as both a natural (vegetable) and refined co-product of oleochemical and biodiesel production, and dependable supply is as much about grade (USP vs technical), source (vegetable vs synthetic) and documentation as chemistry. Glycerine (CAS 56-81-5) is affirmed GRAS by the US FDA under 21 CFR 182.1320 and carries USP, BP, Ph.Eur. and FCC monographs.

Industrial buyers placing bulk orders also keep a close eye on glycerine pricing, since contract rates feed directly into the cost of everything they produce downstream.

Manufacturing Process of Glycerine

Most commercial glycerine is recovered as a co-product of oleochemical manufacture. When fats and oils are split (hydrolysed) into fatty acids, or transesterified into biodiesel, or saponified into soap, glycerol is released as a crude glycerine stream. This crude is then refined - by vacuum distillation and/or ion-exchange, followed by activated-carbon bleaching - to remove salts, water, colour and odour, yielding refined 99.5%+ glycerine that meets USP/Ph.Eur. specification. Vegetable glycerine is derived from palm, coconut or soy; synthetic glycerine (a minor share) is made from propylene.

Every shipment Elchemy supplies is tested for assay, water content, colour and heavy metals - with DEG/EG explicitly controlled before dispatch, with a Certificate of Analysis travelling alongside each order.

Glycerine Price: Bulk Pricing for Industrial Buyers

If you're looking for current glycerine pricing for bulk procurement, Elchemy provides quotes based on your specific requirements. Fill out the quote request form with your volume, grade, destination and packaging preference, and our team will revert with a detailed offer within 24 to 48 hours.

Pricing works on a quote basis rather than a published rate because the cost is driven by the oleochemical and biodiesel cycle (glycerine is a co-product, so its price tracks fat/oil processing volumes) and vegetable oil prices, rather than tracking a fixed list.

Beyond that, several factors layer in to shape the final number: grade, committed volume, origin country, packaging format, freight, Incoterm choice (FOB, CIF or DDP) and applicable import duty (HTS 2905.45 for US-bound shipments).

For an approximate read on where the market sits, procurement teams often reference vegetable oil and oleochemical price indices, which give a sense of how rates are trending.

Trade publications also report the glycerine price per kg as a unit-level benchmark, useful for spotting short-term regional shifts even on large industrial orders.

At bulk procurement scale, however, the glycerine price per ton is the most relevant commercial unit, since contracts are typically negotiated and committed at that level.

For an exact rate, none of these references replaces a direct quote. The actual price depends on your contract structure, destination, committed volume and timing of dispatch, which is why a quote from our team will always be the most accurate number for your specific procurement.

Packaging & Logistics

Glycerine ships in 25 kg (55 lb) bags, 50 lb bags for the US market, or 1 MT (2,205 lb) FIBC jumbo bags (liquids ship in drums, IBCs or ISO tanks as applicable), supplied as per buyer requirements. A typical 20' container holds approximately 18 to 24 MT depending on packaging.

For US-bound orders, domestic stock supports faster fulfilment. Where sourcing is required from origin countries, transit times typically run 24 to 28 days to the US East Coast and 18 to 22 days to the West Coast. Elchemy offers EXW, FOB, CIF and DDP terms, depending on how your procurement team prefers to handle landed cost and customs.

Material should be stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area per the storage conditions on the TDS. Standard dispatch follows agreed contract terms, with expedited timelines available where needed. Samples are dispatched within 24 to 48 hours.

Why Choose Elchemy as a Trusted Glycerine Supplier?

Elchemy makes glycerine procurement straightforward for industrial buyers. That means consistent material across the grades listed above, with a Certificate of Analysis for every batch and full documentation (TDS, SDS) as standard.

Because we source across multiple origins, we quote on the best landed cost for your destination rather than a single manufacturer's list price. Our partner plants operate to recognised quality standards (ISO 9001, plus food/pharma certifications where relevant), with Halal and Kosher certification available on request.

Beyond the US, Elchemy ships into 40+ countries with samples available for qualification before any bulk order, and pricing tailored to volume, destination and contract terms.

Safety & Handling

Not classified as hazardous under GHS and not DOT-regulated. The essential quality-safety control is the DEG/ethylene glycol limit test - always supplied on the COA for USP/Ph.Eur. grade.

Glycerine is a food- and pharma-grade, non-toxic, biodegradable substance safe for oral, dermal and mucosal use. It is essentially non-irritating; very high concentrations applied neat to skin can feel tacky and, being hygroscopic, may draw moisture and cause a transient stinging on broken skin. The one critical safety issue is contamination: glycerine must be tested for diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol, toxic adulterants that have caused fatal poisonings when contaminated glycerine reached medicine supply chains. Elchemy-supplied USP/Ph.Eur. glycerine is DEG-tested with the limit confirmed on the COA.

The full 16-section GHS-aligned SDS is available alongside material orders.